A prescription tells us what treatment was recommended, but not always how it is being used. Survey findings from adults and caregivers managing psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis reveal a disconnect between prescribed topical corticosteroid use and actual treatment behavior. Concerns about adverse events, including experiences with prior treatment, were among the reasons patients reported using medication less frequently than directed. Rather than viewing these decisions simply as nonadherence, the findings invite a closer look at how perceived risks shape treatment choices and where more meaningful conversations between patients and clinicians might begin.